Impact operated toy



May 20, 1952 P. M. GUTMANN 2,597,094

IMPACT OPERATED Toy Filed March v, 195o IN vE/vTaR.-

Patented May 20, 1952 OFFICE y IMPACT OPERATED TOY Paul M. Gutmann, Paris, France Application March 7, 1950, Serial No. 148,039 In France July 22, 1949 4 Claims. l

This invention has for its object to provide a toy which is convertible under the action of an impact or shock, but adapted to be readily restored to its initial form or condition to lend itself anew to a similar conversion.

The toy comprises an assembly of interpivoted elements, adapted to separate or move apart by pivotal movements under the urge of spring means, said elements being retained in position with respect to one another by a releasable retaining member adapted to be released by an impact.

The interpivoted assembly of elements forms a unitary whole both in its normal condition and in its released condition after an impact.

As a result of the impact al1 the spring-urged components spread or open out, giving the general impression that the toy is completely dislocated. However all of the elements thus apparently dislocated remain attached-to one another and a simple manipulation suflices to restore them to a condition in which they are again retained in their initially assembled condition.

This feature is particularly applicable to toys that are reduced replicas of power vehicles such as automobiles, railways, trains, aircraft, and so on. It provides the child user with the impression of witnessing an accident such as a collision, wreck or crash in which the toy appears to be smashed topieces. ponents of the toy remain attached together, it is an easy matter quickly to restore the toy into condition for a fresh accident, a surprising and entertaining procedure for a child.

A. similar arrangement could be embodied in a structure of larger size, as a feature for amusement parks or the like.

One exemplary embodiment of the invention, as applied to a clockwork-driven toy automobile is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the toy in its normal condition in elevation.

Fig. 2 shows the toy dislocated after an impact, also in elevation, and i Fig. 3 is a detail view in plan showing the release mechanism.

The toy car according to the invention comprises a longitudinal frame element I extending through the rear part of the toy and carrying rear wheels 2 with their spring-powered drive means 3. The frame I carries at its front end an element representing the engine unit 4. It will thus be seen that the assembly comprising the frame I, wheels 2, mechanism 3 and front part 4 constitutes an integral unit in the toy.

Since however al1 the com- On the frame I there is mounted a spindle or shaft 5 on which is pivoted the element 6 representing the rear part of the bodywork. A spiral spring 'I is fitted round the spindle 5 and its opposite end arms 8 and 9 are applied against the frame I and the bodywork 6 respectively.

This spring is such that the arms 8 and 9 thereof tend to' open or spread apart, thereby tending to separate the body 6 from the frame I, the element 6 swinging about the spindle 5. Conversely to apply 6 against I (as in Fig. 1) a slight pressure has to be exerted to compress the spring 1-8-9.

The frame I has fixed to it a transverse flange I0 to which is attached the element 4 representing the engine unit and the hood or bonnet II. The parts I0 and I I are thus rigid with the frame I as is the part 4, so that their assembly forms a rigid support.

On this rigid supporting unit a transversely extending spindle I2 is mounted. The crossspindle I2 has pivoted on it the front part of the car comprising the oor I3 with the front wheels I4 and the front bodywork I5. About the spindle r or shaft I2 a spiral spring I6 having two arms I'I and I8 is mounted, the arm I'I being abutted against the hood II and the arm I8 against the oor I3. The arms I'I-IS tend to separate the entire front part I3-I4-I5 from the hood II rigid with the frame I, and accordingly to rock the front part away from the frame I` about the spindle I2. Conversely to place these elements to the position of Fig. 1, it is necessary to apply a light pressure in order to compress. the spring Iii-' I'I-I8.

The spindle I2 further has pivoted on it the element I9 which represents the top part of the bodywork. On the part I5 and on each side of the car is mounted a spindle 20 about whichthe door 2l is pivoted. The door is inserted in between the front and rear pivoting elements. The door is pivoted on the element I5 and has its rear edge 22 applied against the edge 123 of the element 6. In the position of Fig. 1, the door 2l thus forms the means enabling the elements I5 and 6 to be held in assembled condition and withstand the stresses applied to them by the springs 1 and I6.

Each of the doors 2I is provided with an element 24 of triangular form. The parts 24 constitute cam surfaces on which bear the curved ends 25 of sliding rods 26 connected with a front bumper-bar 21. The rods 26 and the bumper to which they are attached are mounted on the front part I5. The rods 26 extend through the.

3 front of the car. They also extend through the flange I rigid with I through holes large enough ot enable them to assume any required angular positions.

The toy car thus constructed may of course be tted with any desired accessories such as seats 28 and other ttings.

Whenzthe car isiin-its normal :condition as shown l, theclosed doors; 2`I reta-inthe parts I5 and 6 in position against the action of springs and I5. All the elements are in proper alignment and the toy has all the outward appearance of a real car. It is driven-by springaotuated mechanism 3 and is quite like any other known toy of similar character.

Whenever, during its travel, the toyiencounters an obstacle the front bumper 2'I receives van im-v pact. The bumper 21 is pushed back .with respect to the front of the car protected by it and in so. doing .actuates the rods 28. Therods 26 engage the parts 24; forcing theseto rock about theirv spindles Nan'dopening the 'doors 2'I, as shown-in dotted outline in Fig. 3. .The resistance opposed by the"do`ors` .to the spreading ko ut Aof the springs 1 8-9 'and'I-l'I-I'S disappears. Thesprings instantly -cause the .part 6 torocl: with respect lto Vthe part "I aboutthe spindle 5 and thefront assembly .I3-1i`4- I`5 to` rock with `resp'ectto the part' I about vthe spindle l2.v The bodywork I9 ismovedtcgetherfwith'the.part I5 and' is thus also rocked about I2. The toy then assumes- 4the appearance vshown in Fig... 2, .providing the desired generally dislocated and wrecked aspect lwithout howeverany of the component parts of the toy having become disengaged.-" li i To restore the toy to its operative condition, it lis merely necessary to put back the Apart 6 therefrom and engaging said bearing plates to over the frame I and rock the front I5 to restore it into alignment with 'therean Then the'doors 2lI' are, slammed Sh'ut and return' to their insrted position withinlthe intermediate gap'f' the edges `22`beingfapplied against' the 'edges 23of the element Band thus acting .to retain the toy 'which comprisesv twoV elements, vmeans pivotally connectingsaid'elements together, a front and 'ai rear 'automobilesectionrespectively carried by said "elements, a spring secured to one element tending" tocause relative pivotingA of the elements, swinging vdoors, secured'to one of said'elements and retaining said elements vinalignment 4against" theaction'of said spring, 'bearing means 'for said doors inwardly thereof, a bumper fin front of the automobile and rods rigid wthsaid bumper-'engaging said bearing means adapted to cause'the' doors `to open as a result Aof -a shock, 'andenable-the spring to eiiect dislocation oi lsaid-pivotally connected elements.

open said doors upon a shock being applied to said-vbumper, thereby causing a resilient dislocationof the body elements relative to the frame element.

3. A toy vehicle comprising front and rear elements, means, pivotally connecting, said elements together, supporting-wheels carried by .each of said elements, a body element pivotally mounted on oneoisaid elements, spring means urging said pivoted elements to disassembled positions'relative to each other, hinged -doonmeans 'carried by oneof said elements and engageable Y'in a closed-position Awith another of said elements for retaining .said spring urged elements in assembled positions-relative to each other, andvshocktransmittingmeans extendingfrom one, end ofthe vehicle and-engaging said 'door means vto shift vthe door means to open position and thereby release the.- retaining engagement of the door meanswith saidelement; i W4'. A toy vehicle comprisinga frame element, rear supporting'wheelscarried by-said frame elementfarear :body element,4 'means pivotally mounting -the` rear body element on said frame element, a spring cooperatively engaging said frame andrear body elements urging said elementsl lto "pvotallymove; to disassembledpositions relatively to Aeach other, a fron-t body element provided withfront wheels-meanspivotally mountingl said front'body' element on said frame element,-a spring cooperatively Yengaging said frame and 'front `body elements urging said fframe and front body elements to pivotally move to disassembled positions relatively to each other., a top 'element pivotal-ly -mounted on one Aof said elements -hinged doormeans carriedby said -front body-element-and engageable ini a closed-position `with the rear body-element -toretalinall of said :elements in an assembled position, a bum-per carried by saidfveln'cle, and means for-transmitting shockl from -said bumper to said door means 'to open -the latter and-releasethe elements for movement to disassembled positions relative -to each other by said springs.V

PAUL M. GUTMANN.

RFRENCES CITED ,A `The `fol-lowing lreferences are of record in the file of this patent: PATENTS 

